Flip This House As A Business

Flip This House As A Business

– Flipping houses. It offers the allure and appeal that we see on popular TV shows. From HGTV’s Flip or Flop to Flipping Vegas, these so-called “reality” TV shows paint a glamorous picture of flippers buying and renovating a house only to sell it and make a handsome profit. But the hard truth is that flipping houses takes more time, involves a significant amount of stress and isn’t always so rosy. I.E. You may not always reap huge profits. But if you do your homework and find a sound investment, then “flip this house as a business” may be right for you.

Many real estate markets present some good opportunities for investors. However, in some markets, flipping presents its challenges as market inventory is low making good deals hard to come by. And, when they do become available, they require competitive bidding to snatch up.

Here Are The Top 6 Tips for Flipping:

Have A Solid Budget. Not only do you have to take into account the purchase price and the renovation, but also take into account carrying costs (interest, property taxes, insurance, etc.) and make sure that you have a contingency fund in place should the project go over on budget and/or time. 10% of the rehab budget is a good rule of thumb.

Understand The Neighborhood And Market. Is the area an up and coming neighborhood that appeals primarily to the career minded millennial generation? Or perhaps the area caters to younger families and is known for fantastic schools. Study recent sale data and average days on market (DOM) to get a handle on realistic pricing and marketing strategies.

Don’t Over-Renovate. Some flippers are guilty of over-renovating. The goal of a flip is to deliver a sound property within a specified period of time and on a budget that reflects the neighborhood. Use the money in the places that it will return the most. Don’t go overboard with marble tile if it will price the home out of the neighborhood. Instead, look to add what buyers demand. If the space feels closed in, then consider removing walls to create an open-concept layout.

Price Accordingly. While it may be tempting to over-price based upon the time and expense that went into the renovation, be fair in your pricing strategy. Tour comparables in the area and compare features and benefits of each. Obviously, you don’t want the flip to be priced too low, but overpricing may make it sit on the market and means that you may miss out on lost opportunities to snatch up good deals while your money is tied up in the previous flip.

Choose The Best Financing. Although there are some loan programs on the market that offer little to no down, beware of the limitations that may come with them. Note that paying interest on a loan does affect your bottom line when the deal is done. See our article on hard money lenders.

Have An ‘A Team’ On Your Side. Everyone from a lender, realtor, contractor, accountant and the list goes on. All of these professionals can lend you their expertise to be successful at flipping.

Being a rehabber isn’t as glamorous as the reality TV shows make it out to be. Behind every flipper is a detailed budget, flip timeline, bills to pay, contracts, negotiations, overseeing contractors and subcontractors, obtaining permits and the list goes on and on. Real estate can be an expensive proposition and deciding to purchase and flip a house can be a large financial responsibility. It is also time-consuming. If you have a 9 to 5 job to, adding in a flipping a house business can put pressure on daily life. Just remember, that while there are potential profits to be made from flipping, if it were super easy then everybody would be doing it!

Rick Toney Is A Seasoned Real Estate Professional With Over 25 Years Of Real Estate Experience, Writes A Weekly Real Estate Blog And Is A Principal of Blue Moon Realty Group And Mesa Realty Advisors. Blue Moon Realty Group Is A Residential Redevelopment Company Specializing In The Purchase And Renovation Of Older And Physically Distressed Homes (Flip This House Boston). Mesa Realty Advisors Is An Affordable Housing Developer Specializing In The Redevelopment Of Existing Low-Income Housing Properties. Rick Is A Certified Public Accountant (CPA - Retired) In The State Of California, A Certified Property Manager (CPM - Retired) And A Real Estate Broker In The States Of California (Retired) And Massachusetts.

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Rick Toney

Rick Toney Is A Seasoned Real Estate Professional With Over 25 Years Of Real Estate Experience, Writes A Weekly Real Estate Blog And Is A Principal of Blue Moon Realty Group And Mesa Realty Advisors. Blue Moon Realty Group Is A Residential Redevelopment Company Specializing In The Purchase And Renovation Of Older And Physically Distressed Homes (Flip This House Boston). Mesa Realty Advisors Is An Affordable Housing Developer Specializing In The Redevelopment Of Existing Low-Income Housing Properties. Rick Is A Certified Public Accountant (CPA - Retired) In The State Of California, A Certified Property Manager (CPM - Retired) And A Real Estate Broker In The States Of California (Retired) And Massachusetts.